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Police stories for July 30

Ruidoso Patrol officers Wallace Downs and Neal Cox responded to the 2500 block of Sudderth Drive at 6:27 p.m. July 20 for a report of a male harassing the owners of a business.

The business workers told dispatch that there was an intoxicated male beating on their door and they were closed for business. They were concerned for their safety and unwilling to leave the business.

Downs made contact with Michael Cooper, 55, of Mescalero, and reported Cooper smelled of alcoholic beverage and appeared to be intoxicated. Downs reported Cooper admitted he had been drinking and claimed ownership of two beers Downs found at Cooper's feet.

Downs cited Cooper for drinking in public, then reported Cooper became very loud and angry, yelling that he was an Apache Indian. Downs told Cooper to sit down. Cooper then abruptly stood up and pointed his right index finger at Downs. Downs grabbed Cooper's hand and Cox grabbed the other hand. The officer arrested Cooper for assault on a peace officer and disorderly conduct. Bond was set at $1,500 surety.

Cox responded to the Ruidoso Police Department July 20 for a report of a lost or stolen iPad.

The victim said she had the iPad in her bag at the Ruidoso Municipal Swimming Pool earlier.

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She said she suspected two brothers she had seen hanging around her bag, but when she reported the iPad missing, a lifeguard contacted the brothers and searched them but did not find the iPad. The girl's mother told Cox she thought the boys had stashed the iPad before they were searched.

Several Ruidoso officers got involved in a chase of a shoplifter at about 5 p.m. July 25.

Cox responded to IGA for the report of a man in a gray and black hoodie and black and red ball cap shoplifting a bottle of rum and a pack of UNO cards. A store employee confronted the man in the store and the suspect handed him the bottle of rum and dropped the cards.

Sgt. Mike Weaver contacted the subject and ordered the man to put his hands on his head. Instead, the man fled on foot.

Patrol Officer Steve Minner then spotted the man in the are of Grove and Mechem. The suspect also fled from Minner.

Cox found the suspect and the man again fled. Cox followed the suspect to the 100 block of Grove where he found an unlocked door in the basement of a house. Cox pushed the door open and observed the suspect hiding in the dark basement. Cox ordered the man to show his hands and when he did not comply, Cox used his taser to encourage compliance.

According to court records, Mariano is facing charges in Alamogordo Magistrate Court for failure to register as a sex offender. Judge James Newton issued a bench warrant for Mariano July 24 when Mariano failed to appear for a hearing.

Ruidoso Patrol Officer Curtis Rodgers responded to a Midtown Ruidoso restaurant at 8:29 a.m. July 25 for a report of the door being kicked in.

An employee said he arrived to find the door open. Rodgers reported it appeared someone had pried the door open, damaging the lock, door jam and door. Nothing was reported stolen.

Rodgers responded to the 1600 block of Sudderth Drive at 8:58 a.m. July 25 for reports of criminal damage to property.

The owners of two businesses reported someone had punctured tires on vehicles parked at the businesses overnight. Rodgers reported someone appeared to have punctured the sidewalls of the tires with a sharp instrument.

Ruidoso Patrol Officer Mike Brazel responded to the 200 block of Paradise Canyon at 12:17 a.m. July 26 for a report of a verbal domestic.

Brazel found Wambli Little Spotted Horse, 19, sitting in the middle of the west bound lane of Paradise Canyon Road.

Little Spotted Horse reportedly said he did not understand why the police were there because, "my problem is I'm in love." Little Spotted Horse at first refused to give his name and then refused to give his date of birth. Brazel reported Little Spotted Horse appeared to be intoxicated and was evasive to all questions

The reporting party said the previous evening an unknown person had pried the top off the box containing four pickle ball nets valued at $150 each and stolen the nets.

Lund advised that the equipment not be left at the tennis court since this was the second time pickle ball equipment had been reported stolen from the courts.

Losing your seat

Lund responded to the 2400 block of Sudderth Drive July 28 for a report of criminal damage to village property.

Lund reported someone had apparently attempted to remove three 4x4 posts from a bench.

Lund notified village officials.

Ruidoso Patrol Officer Joseph Bailey responded to the 200 block of Carters Lane for a report of a domestic.

When he arrived, Bailey reported he could hear an a man and woman arguing inside the apartment and the woman was yelling for the man to let go of her arm.

Bailey insisted the man answer the door and when he did, Bailey placed him in investigative detention.

The man's story was that he was asleep when his girlfriend came home from work and that she started throwing things around the apartment. When she threw something that hit him in the face, he lost it and grabbed her by the wrist.

Her story was he had refused to pick her up from work for the past three days and when she arrived home from work he accused her of cheating on him. He walked outside during the argument and she locked the door behind him and went into the kitchen and poured a bowl of cereal. He attempted to reenter the apartment but she held the lock to keep him out. He then reportedly ripped the screen off the window and jumped through the window. He then reportedly grabbed her by both wrists and held her against the bedroom wall, twisting her wrists. He then repeatedly began striking her in the head with a closed fist. She began screaming for someone to call the cops.

Bailey reports the woman did have some small lacerations on both wrists.

Bailey reported the man was sweating profusely and his pupils were dilated, but he denied having used any drugs that evening.

Bailey arrested Jeremy Eckman, 38, on a charge of battery on a household member.

Ruidoso Patrol Officer Josh Snodgrass responded to the police department July 29 for a report of an auto burglary.

The victim said she and her husband had taken pictures with their camera before going to dinner that evening and then when they arrived at their cabin after dinner the camera was gone from the back floorboard of the car. She said they had not stopped anywhere else.

The victim said the car doors were not locked while they were having dinner at a restaurant in the 600 block of Sudderth Drive.